Suicidal ideation among the United States drinking population: results from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey

Abstract

Objective: Data from a national representative sample of adults was used to identify major risk factors of suicidal ideation among the U.S. drinking population.

Method: Data from a sample of 18,352 current drinkers, 18 years of age and older, were analyzed by means of multiple logistic regression analysis. In these analyses, multivariate associations were examined between risk factors for suicidal ideation and the occurrence of suicidal ideation.

Results: For men and women, past year major depression and alcohol dependence were identified as risk factors of suicidal ideation, with major depression having the more sizable impact. Suicidal ideation was increased among men with a past alcohol use disorder, and elevated among women who had used drugs nonmedically and developed a drug use disorder during the past year. The occurrence of a recent physical illness and lifetime treatment for major depression among men and women increased the risk of suicidal ideation, while marriage was protective against ideation for both sexes. Unemployment and having a family history of alcoholism increased the risk of suicidal ideation among men, but not women.

Conclusions: Major findings are discussed in terms of the impact of severity versus chronicity of psychopathology on suicidal ideation, gender roles and differential engagement in suicidal ideation, and the recognition and treatment of major depression as the single most important intervention in reducing suicidal behavior.